Gov. Christie: “Level of Devastation at the Jersey Shore is Unthinkable;” Search and Rescue Underway

Gov. Chris Christie provided an update on the “devastation” Sandy unleashed on New Jersey.

“There are houses in the middle of Route 35,” he said, describing the damage to the Jersey shore. “The level of devastation at the Jersey shore is unthinkable.”

He said even though the rain has tapered it off it far too dangerous for homeowners to return to the barrier islands to assess the damage

“We need to remain patient, let the waters recede and then go in and get a full assessment,” he said. “It is a devastating sight right now. The devastation that happened in New Jersey is beyond what happened anywhere else. The devastation is unprecedented, like nothing we have ever seen.”

He said the recovery could take longer than Hurricane Irene.

“We need to keep that in mind in terms of gauging our expectations.”

Gov. Chris Christie warned that getting to and from Manhattan will be difficult via mass transit.

“I would not look for the PATH system to be operating anytime in the near feature, at least 7 or 10 days. My guess, people will have to rely on the ferry system to get back and forth into Manhattan much like we saw after 9/11.”

He added, that “NJ Transit, I think will be less compromised than the PATH system,” but could provide no timetable.

Christie also said he is suffering from a cold.

Rescue operations were under way from one end of New Jersey to the other Tuesday morning, hours after a powerful storm ripped through.

At least three people died from the storm, and authorities were rescuing residents of a small Bergen County community after a huge swell of water overflowed a barrier, stranding people on roofs in a trailer park.

A portion of the Atlantic City Boardwalk was destroyed by the pounding surf, and 2.3 million people were without electricity, many in flooded communities. One hospital evacuated, sending dozens of patients elsewhere.

And federal officials were keeping a close eye on the nation’s oldest nuclear power plant, which suffered power outages, declared an alert due to rising water levels and lost a portion of its warning alarm system overnight.

“We are in the midst of urban search and rescue; our teams are moving as fast and as safe as they can,” Christie said.

Authorities in Moonachie began a rescue effort after a huge swell of water flooded the town. Police Sgt. Tom Schmidt said the rush of water put about 5 feet of water in the streets within 45 minutes.

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